Published on: 8th July 2024
As we enter a new financial year, Deaf Connect is excited to renew our commitment of $300,000 in grants and sponsorships. This is allocated to support Deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing Australians, along with activities and organisations that benefit the community.
Funded by the Deaf Lottery, these grants aim to help individuals and groups achieve their goals, whether they are recreational, career-oriented, or focused on well-being.
Grant Categories
- Individuals and Groups: For personal or community projects that demonstrate value to the Deaf community as a whole.
- Community Events: For events delivered by or for the Deaf community, or events that aim to improve language access for Deaf individuals.
- Partnership Building: For organisations looking to develop a long-term association with Deaf Connect. These partnerships involve ongoing, mutually beneficial support beyond a single project or event and have the capacity for long-term collaboration.
- Service Growth (Internal Only): For the development of new service offerings and projects within Deaf Connect.
How to Apply
If you have a project that aligns with these goals, we encourage you to apply.
Visit our website or contact our team for more information.
In the financial year of July 1 2023, to June 30 2024, we proudly supported a wide range of inspiring community members and groups. Here are a few of their stories.
Auslan Saved My Life Conference
In April 2024, Ramas McRae organised a conference called “Auslan Saved My Life!” to encourage conversations between the Deaf Mental Health sector and the mainstream mental health sector. The goal was to show that signed languages, like Auslan, are different from spoken languages.
Attendees, including counsellors, psychologists and support workers, had the opportunity to reflect on their practices and how they relate to deafness and mental health, especially using unique communication methods.
Deaf Connect sponsored the event, providing live captioning and supporting Ramas’s travel to Melbourne where the conference took place.
ASLITA Pioneer Interpreters
Interpreters play a crucial role as allies and cultural bridges for both the Deaf and hearing communities. We were proud to support the Australian Sign Language Interpreters’ Translators’ Association (ASLITA) with a grant to document the little-known history of Auslan interpreting in Australia, and sponsor their 2023 event which invited interpreters from across Australia to participate.
This project also resulted in a book documenting significant moments in the profession’s development.
Deaf Women’s Group South Australia 125th Anniversary
Established in 1899, the SA Deaf Women’s Group (DWG) has created a community for Deaf and hard-of-hearing women in SA.
Deaf Connect was thrilled to support their 125th Anniversary High Tea in June 2024. A grant was provided to cover staffing and interpreter costs for this significant milestone. The celebration, attended by 75 women, featured presentations and honoured the contributions of members both past and present.
